The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-13
OCEAN WOLVES.
PERILS BIET WITH IN A HUNT
FOR MAN-EATING SHARKS.
A Bloody Battle Off the New Eng
land Coast Means Adopted
to Entrap the Wary Mon
ters Of the Seas.

peculiar, cyllndrlcal shape OF the shark
adapts it both for great strength and
speed in the water. The pectoral fins are
moderately developed, and serve both as
guides and propellers. In nearly every
respect they answer the same purpose for
the shark that wings answer for bird.
But the great tail is the sharks principal
motive power and its instrument of de-
fence and attack. This immense weapon
is capable of delivering blows that would
crush the life out of an ordinary animal,
and the rapidity with which it is some
times moved about in the water, when
the creature is excited or wounded,
causes great waves to rock to fro on the
surface like q miniature whirlpool.
A group of large sharks, when viewed
from the deck of an ocean steamer, is
most interesting sight. Then the beauty
Of the monsters can be fully appreciated
and the graceful actions of the younger
members of the sportive crowd admired
without fear. A piece of beef or pork
thrown into the water causes commo-
ton near the vessels side that lends ad-
ditional pleasure to the scene, and as the
several dark forms rush rapidly toward
the floating bait, you have fair oppor
iunity of seeing the ravenous creatures
eating their meal. If by accident one
gets wounded in the fight for the morsel
of meat. battle-royal then occurs. The
water is soon dyed to crimson color and
the foam is lashed about in furious
manner. The wounded shark makes
bold stand for his life, but his voracious
comrades throw themselves upon the un-
fortunate member without ceremony, and
soon rend limb from limb, leaving moth
ing but the bones behind, which the sea-
birds finally peck clean. For miles out
at sea such fight can be seen, and the
noise created by the strong tails lashing
the water sounds like the wheels of
ferry-boat, only much louder. In these
mid-ocean battles whole schools of sharks
are often engaged, and before the fight
ing is ended dozen or more of the Great
ures have been destroyed and the rest
gorged with their remains. When the
appetite of the school is satisfied they be.
come content and the battle is stopped
as if by mutual assent. Evidently the
law of the survival of the fittest is carried
out vigorously among the shark family,
and "might makes right" appears to be
their motto. The largest and strongest
can resist the attacks the longest and
make the weaker ones their prey.
These inhabitants of the deep have
been called, not inappropriately, "the
wolves of the ocean," Their habits and
mode of attack are very similar to our
Western wolves, and, like them, they al
ways travel in focks or schools. When
far from the shore they become bolder in
their actions, and will even venture to at
tack "a small craft singly when hard
pressed for hunger. But when confined
| in bay they become shy and cowardly.
| The shallowness of the water friShtens
them, and they shun the approach of man
with as much dread as do our Western
wolves when caught on some open
prairie in broad daylight. But, if cor
nered, and their life threatened, they will
sometimes turn upon their enemy with
the fierceness of despair, and offer des-
perate battle.
They frequent the bays and the waters
near the shore, however, in great num-
bers at certain certain seasons of the year,
as mid-ocean offers very poor feeding
ground for them. To appease their vora-
! cious appetites they are compelled to be
in constant activity, and it requires but a
moment to gulp several smaller fish down
their huge throats. They are never really
satisfied with their meal, and will snap at
anything that may float near them in the
shape ofmeat. This offers the fishermen
great opportunities, and every year they
haul in hundreds of these fierce fish. OF
the New England coast, men go out
every fall to hunt sharks. On clear
days, when the surface of the ocean
is comparatively calm, the animals
! are very abundant, and little Diff
! Guilty is experienced in hauling in
from eight to ten in one day. The bodies
are brought ashore and sent to the mills
that make fertilizers, and the teeth, after
being extracted, are fashioned into deli
cate little ornaments, set in gold, for
ladies to wear. The beaches in many
places, after the summer season is over,
are strcwn with bleaching sharks heads
which the summer visitors caught during
their short soiourn near the sea, The
sport attached to the work of hauling in
| the great monster is the principle induce
ment for hunting them. A large, strong
whale boat is fitted out with all the nee
esssary appurtenances and taken at o
sufficient distance from the shore. A
large shark hook is then attached to the
end of rope and thrown overheard. The
bait used is sometimes beef, pork or
clans. The shark is not particular about
its diet, and it quickly swallows the
luscious morscl, including hook, line and
! all. 1t then starts off in another dlrcc-
ton, reeling out the long rope as it does
so, until the fishermen gradually checks
its Roadway, and Infinitely brings it to
standstil. Then they begin to reel III
on their end of the linca and i'll short
time boat and shark come so close togcth-
er that they have an opportunity of
scrutinizing each other. Like the Goldfish,
the shark allows itself to be dragged
through the water like log, offering no
resistance, nor making any splashing
time. But when it is drawn close to the
boat and its sharp eye catches the first
glimpse of it's deadly enemies, then 1t
Begins to manifest its displeasure in
q way that is appalling to a green
horn. It dashes hither and thlthcr
with the impetuosity of despair,
churning the water into great billows
with its Strong tail, and makingthe whale
boat rock up and down like a cookie
shell. But its efforts prove OF no avail
the heavy reel slowly winds around and
draws it nearer to its fate. The
exccltioner stands in the bow of the boat
uith bis heavy club or axe and watches